Nepal's government will seek domestic and foreign investors for 23 major and strategic infrastructure projects worth Rs 2.453 trillion at the Nepal Infrastructure Summit in Kathmandu on December 9 and 10, Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal said on Friday. The projects span energy, tunnels, expressways, civil aviation, information technology and industrial infrastructure, and the pitch comes as revenue pressure to meet recurrent expenditure mounts.

Source: Republica via Nepal Energy Forum

Largest projects on the list

The largest project to be showcased is the Rs 400 billion Budhi Gandaki Multipurpose Project, followed by the Rs 381 billion Dudhkoshi Reservoir Project, the Rs 260 billion Majhitar-Shaktikhor Tunnel and the Rs 221 billion Chandragiri-Chitlang-Palung-Chitwan Expressway. Other major energy projects include the Rs 208 billion Upper Arun Hydropower Project and the Rs 200 billion Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project.

Investors will also be approached for the Rs 162 billion Nijgadh International Airport, the Rs 80 billion Butwal-Pokhara Expressway and the Rs 67 billion Kohalpur-Surkhet Expressway, along with the Rs 55 billion Maheshphant Satellite IT City, the Rs 51 billion Dhaubadi Iron Mine, a Rs 50 billion Global Convention and Digital Hub, a Rs 50 billion AI Data Centre in Manang and the Rs 45 billion Manedobhan Eco Town. The list further includes the Karnali HVDC and Bheri HVDC transmission lines at Rs 25 billion each, the Rs 10 billion Daunne Tunnel and the Rs 6 billion Dharan-Leuti Tunnel.

Source: People's Review

59 laws to be changed, industry wants Nepali firms in

Lamsal said the government is preparing to introduce or amend 59 laws to improve the investment climate before the summit, and that investors would be told about the planned policy reforms alongside the projects. The summit is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN), with Investment Board Nepal, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce as co-organisers.

FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha said foreign companies should provide opportunities to domestic contractors when undertaking large projects, while FCAN President Nikolas Pandey said Nepali construction companies were ready to partner with foreign investors and should be involved in maintenance and technical work.

Nepal has previously held investment summits in 2017, 2019 and 2024. The 2017 summit secured investment pledges worth $13.5 billion, the 2019 event presented 77 projects worth around $32 billion, and the 2024 summit drew participants from more than 55 countries and resulted in investment approval worth Rs 9.13 billion for four projects through the Department of Industry.